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If you are an ignorant man, you are acting wisely; but if you have had any education, you are behaving like a fool.

— Theophrastus

Εἰ μὲν ἀμαθὴς εἶ, φρονίμως ποιεῖς, εἰ δὲ πεπαίδευσαι, ἀφρόνως.

Original text (Ancient Greek)

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Notes from Wikiquote

Said "when a man preserved a strict silence during the whole of a banquet".

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Education

More quotes by Theophrastus

Remember that life holds out many pleasing deceits to us by the vanity of glory; for that when we are beginning to live, then we are dying. There is, therefore, nothing more profitless than ambition.

Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.

Superstition would seem to be simply cowardice in regard to the supernatural.

When we are beginning to live, then we are dying. There is, therefore, nothing more profitless than ambition.

The Unseasonable man is one who will go up to a busy person, and open his heart to him. He will serenade his mistress when she has a fever. He will address himself to a man who has been cast in a surety-suit, and request him to become his security. He will come to give evidence when the trial is over.

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The greater part of humanity is too much harassed and fatigued by the struggle with want, to rally itself for a new and sterner struggle with error.

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Men are born ignorant, not stupid; they are made stupid by education.

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Theophrastus (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.